Ignition spark-gap device



Feb. '3,- 1925.

. T. REVILLE IGNITION SPARK GAP DEVICE Filed May 22, 1922 Patented Feb. 3, i925.

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mnnornrrn REVILL,y 01` Panis-BRANCH Assrenor.V To eAs'ronY rnnnanncraunn JOLY; 0F lee-Ris. FRANCE remitron- SPARK-.GAP nnvrcn.

Applicationfiledlvlfayv 22, 1922i Serial ,1\Io.'56\2,909.v

To all. whom t may. concern:

Be it known that-1I, TrrnorrriLn REvILL; a citizen ofthe FrenchRe-publi'c, residingat 17, rue des Acacias-.Paris France, haveinventedv certainy new and, useful:l improve? ments 4in. Ignition Spark-GapDevices,l ot

whielrthe followingiis a specification.

This invention relates to ignition spanle gap devices for internal combustion engines.

Numerous Yspark-gap devices or spark-intensifiers are now used for internal combustion engines; none of these devices is completely adjustable, that is to say, none o-f them allows the progressive increase of the spark-gap, starting from actual closed contact and with fixation at the selected distance for ignition, without any interruption of the current.

The present invention obviates this defect by means of a device which provides, without interruption of the current and as desired, either continuity of the current by contact of the electrodes, or interruption at the gap with variable intensity by regular and progressive increase of the distance between the electrodes with fixation at any degree of spark-gap effect.

This device placed in the electric ignition circuit is essentially characterized by two insulating bodies screwing into one another, each of them being traversed by an electrode of which the axis coincides with the axis of the screw-threads on the insulating` body; one of the electrodes is rigidly fixed in its seating and its inner end terminates in line with a Ventilating hole formed transversely in the insulating body. The second electrode, provided at its outer end with a terminal for thc wire, can revolve in the insulating body which encloses it with a small amount of play, which allows the screwing and unscrewing of the body which supports it, upon the other, that is to say, the progressive approach o-r separation of the electrodes, without it being necessaryl for this purpose to detach the wire, that is to say, to break the circuit.

The description hereafter given with reference to the annexed drawing, by way of example, will facilitate the understanding of the invention realized.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the arrangement showing the electrodes in contact.

Figure 2^shows the same, in. part.` section on a plane at right angles, the electrodesbeingfseparated apart from one another;v

Figure?) is a lplan viewoffa detail hereT after described. i Y Figurelyshows the apparatus mountedfon a spark'plug.

The; mounting made of? insulating. material,'. is composedxof two principal. parts a and screw-threaded.one intothe other; both are traversed by a passage serving as a location for the two electrodes, the one o screwed into the part a, the other d held with slight friction in the part within which it can be rotated. The latter electrode, bored at its lower part to provide a hole e serving to receive the high-tension cable which is secured by the set-screw f, is maintained in its location on one side by a circular collar g bearing against a flange formed in the part b and on the other side by a split or spring ring z, seated in a groove formed aroimd the electrode al and bearing against the lower end of the part The point 0 of the fixed electrode 0 is visible at the vent-hole c'. An accessory sleeve y' made of insulating material, screwed to the bottom ofthe body Z) serves as a cableshield.

wWhen the mounting Z) is screwed up on the body fr (as shown in Figure l), the points c d of the two electrodes are in contact and ignition takes place by direct conduction. On the other Ihand, in proportion as the mounting b is unscrewed, the points of the electrodes separate to form ran external spark-gap (as shown in Figure 2).

The electrode opposite to the high-tension cable-attachment may end in a ring or eye 70 permitting the direct fixation of the device upon the spark plug Z (as shown in Figure 4).

The shapes and accessory arrangements of the various parts of the device described, their dimensions and constituent materials, the adjustment of the electrodes in the insulating mounting, and the means for fixation of the device upon the sparking plug or in the electric circuit, can be varied without departing from the present invention. It will be understood that modifications, additions and improvements, within the scope of the invention, can be made in the device described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. An ignition spark gap device, comprising a pair of axially alined electrodes, spark points at the adjacent extremities of said electrodes, insulating supports for said eleotrodes, said insulating supports having a sorew connection with one another and being coaxial with said electrodes, one of said electrodes ixed rigidly in its support and having its pointed extremity in line with a vent hole formed tnansversely in said support, an attachment ring at the outer extremity of said electro-de, the other of said electrodes being irevoluble in its support, a collar upon said revoluble electrode, a hollow outer extremity to said revoluble eleotrode, a ring encircling said outer extremity, said collar and ring bea-ring 'against said insulating support of said revoluble electrode, means for securing a cable end in sai-d hollow extremity, and a cable shield of insulating material screwed upon the outer extremity of the insulating support of said revoluble electrode.

2. An ignition spark-gap device, compris ing two insulating bodies, said bodies screwing one into the other, an electrode fixed rigidly in one of said bodies, an electrode mounted revolubly in the other of said bodies, said electrodes being 4alined and having their adjacent ends in proximity to a vent opening in one of said bodies, means `for preventing longitudinal movement of the revoluble eleotrode in its supporting body, means for attaching said fixed electrode to a spark plug, and means for connecting a conductor to said revoluble electrode.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my signature.

THEOPHILE REvrLLn 

